Musto remembered for 40 years of public service

Former state Sen. Raphael Musto's son Michael said his father lived a long and fulfilling life, both in public and private.

DENISE ALLABAUGH

Former state Sen. Raphael Musto's son Michael said his father lived a long and fulfilling life, both in public and private.

Michael Musto paid tribute to his father Monday at his funeral at St. Joseph Marello Parish in Pittston, where the former senator was a lifelong member and his wife attends Mass every day.

More than 400 people attended the former senator's funeral, including politicians state Sen. John Yudichak, state Reps. Mike Carroll and Eddie Day Pashinski, former state Sen. Robert Mellow and former state Rep. Thomas Tigue.

"It's a fitting tribute to my father's legacy that so many of his fellow public servants are here," Michael Musto said.

Musto, 85, died at his Pittston Township home on Thursday following a battle with cancer and liver disease.

Michael Musto remembered the things his father loved, including Western movies, storytelling, public service and the legislative process.

"He said you could get a lot done if you don't waste your energy waiting to take the credit," said Michael Musto. "He said, 'Don't do things to be thanked.' That was never important to him."

Public service was a trait his father inherited. Musto, 85, a Democrat, was the son of the late state Rep. James Musto. He began his legislative career in 1971, elected to serve the remainder of his late father's term.

He won a special election to the 11th U.S. Congressional District in 1980 and was elected state senator for the 14th District in 1982. He served a 28-year career in the Pennsylvania Senate until his retirement in 2010.

Everyone called him Ray, regardless of his official title, Michael Musto said. "He was a state representative, he was a congressman and he was a senator, but people called him Ray," he said. "They did when he was in the store. They did when he was in Harrisburg and Washington. He was simply known as Ray. In fact, sometimes I called him Ray."

During his political career of nearly four decades, he said his father earned a reputation for being a lawmaker, not a politician.

"He worked for the issue, not for or against another member," he said. "He did what he thought was best for the people."

Allegations that he took bribes and kickbacks surfaced near the end of Musto's political career when he was indicted by a federal grand jury. He recently was allowed to come home from a federal medical prison in North Carolina where a federal judge sent him after ruling he was not competent to stand trial on corruption charges.